And He Walks with me
Disciples Making Disciples • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 48 viewsWhat is the process for making disciples then and how does it look today?
Notes
Transcript
Intro
6th grade was the first year we got to play football and all of us where so excited. That summer we tried out, practiced, and put in the work. We had so many try out that we had to make two teams, the black team, and my team, the orange team. I became a wide receiver and at the time I wasn’t any bigger than Logan but I was fast and excited. Our first game came up and I was on the sideline for the kick off for the first play. I remember watching the ball come up as our opponents tried to catch it and run it down the field. As our teams collided, the ball fell loose and as everyone scrambled to get it, Jacob Sutherd, kicked that ball as hard as he could out of the hands of everyone on the ground, picked it up, and ran it in for a touchdown. We thought we had arrived. We were all cheering and celebrating right up until the flags were thrown, explained and the ball was marched back. The orange team didn’t win a single game that year.
Tension
“You don’t know what you don’t know until you know it.” I say that all the time now as a man and to be honest I don’t know where I heard it first. It’s just one of those things you pick up and its way too applicable to so many things. The last two weeks we’ve discussed being doers of the word and not just hearers, and what a disciple does. Today we are going to learn about this process by looking at how Jesus taught his followers. How they went from ignorant to leaders in the church and what in the world that process looks like today.
Pray
Truth
Let’s learn how to make disciples by looking to the scriptures and see it done.
Jesus’ Process.
Jesus’ Process.
1. Teacher—Learners
1. Teacher—Learners
The first step in the process of making or becoming a disciple is to have a teacher and to have a student. I know, earth-shattering stuff. And we have talked about Jesus calling these first guys and their response: “Immediately, they left the boat and their father and followed him.”
We also talked about the cultural contract that everyone knew in their world surrounding the disciple and the teacher. You weren’t just seeking to learn what he knew but do what he does. To carry his yolk, his teachers, his ministry along with you. In essence, it wasn’t as much a college of know-how but an apprenticeship or journeyman program where you learned a trade from a skilled laborer.
So let’s look at that for a moment. These guys follow Jesus, they sign up, they join in, they follow, and then this happens.
Matthew 4:23–25 (ESV)
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.
24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.
25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Jesus starts with his band of apprentices and starts teaching, which all of them would have expected. But, quickly, he starts to show that he is different. Firstly, you rarely will find rabbis, teachers, who do much more than preach and teach. But Jesus, he is going everywhere and healing diseases and afflictions that the people have. Mind you, modern brain peoples with our pills and medicines and treatments for things: there were plenty of diseases in their world that were just known to be incurable or an outright death sentence. Yet Jesus didn’t just teach or preach, he healed and not just some things but diseases, pains, demon possession, seizures, and people that had been paralyzed since birth. Their modern teachers had no answers for these things let alone a way to fix them. But Jesus did.
Now, I’ve discussed this in the past, how the disciples would have been expected to do what their teacher did and how woefully under qualified they must have felt in this moment. How much they must have felt like a fish on dry land watching Jesus’ work and seeing what he was capable of.
But, instead of bailing and going back home, declaring defeat or that they are outclassed, they still showed up. They still followed him around and learned from their teacher. Watched him work.
Then we come to Matthew 5, our first recorded interaction between the Disciples and Jesus since they had started following him. Jesus sits them down, as well as many who are there as well, and gives one of the most famous lessons of his ministry, The Sermon on the Mount. He lines out the process that they, and all of those who would follow him will go through. The process of moving from ignorance of sin, to knowledge and repentance of it. How they will grow to be done with self and desire the righteousness God offers and provides. This desire lived out will cause them to give mercy, pursue holiness, and sow peace in the world in Christ’s name and for his kingdom.
That lesson starts there but challenges them all on 19 other subjects declaring God’s position on topics ranging from Prayer and Fasting, to anxiety, anger and enemies.
Jesus gave lessons and the disciples showed up to hear them. Mentally, physically, collectively, they were there for the party and ready to learn from this teacher.
So, teacher—check. Apprentices—check. Lessons—check. But how did they do?
2. Coach—Practitioners
2. Coach—Practitioners
Matthew 9:35–38 (ESV)
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 10:1–4 (ESV)
1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
They have been watching Jesus work, seeing his methods and even participating with, not only his lessons, but also his ministry as well. But this message, that the harvest is ready but we need more guys in the field is about to kick them out of the kiddie pool and into the deep end. Watch what Jesus does next.
Matthew 10:5–25 (ESV)
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts,
10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.
12 As you enter the house, greet it.
13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Jesus encourages them, discourages them, and prepares them to go out and get in the game. They are sent out with some training wheels, in pairs, to start becoming the laborers in the fields. He doesn’t answer all of their questions but he set the parameters for their expectations.
They are to be not just his followers today, no they will be those that preach his truth. “the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” He then adds that the same things they’ve seen him do: heal sick, raise dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. They are going to do all these things too. They aren’t allowed to take or accept money for these service neither but all their needs will be provided for by God and those who serve him. By the way, who among us would sign up for this mission trip. “Don’t bring anything with you, trust that God will provide all you need, preach a message that most likely will be taken hostility by those that hear it, you’ll have no where to stay, and by the way, you can now heal people.” Imagine all the fear and anxiety whelming up in them but remember: this is what this was all building too. Jesus was teaching them these things to get them read for this day. That they would be doers of the word and not just those that hear it alot. We then, are told in Chapter 11:1 that Jesus sent them out to do these things, then went around later and joined them as he preached in the cities they were sent too.
You see, Jesus taught well, he modeled well, he showed them not just what to do but why to do it. Then, he sent them into the fields as trained and hired hands. Had they ever done this work by themselves? Not really but they trusted him and went anyway.
My buddy Tommy always said “No matter how old I get, every time we work on the truck, I end up holding the flashlight for dad.” How many of you guys know that to be true? How many of you also know that there is coming a day when dad won’t be there to fix it anymore and it will be our turn to get our hands dirty. Jesus was not going to be around forever and so he trained these men, coached them, and released them to get their hands dirty. Because one day they would have to do it themselves. Lastly, Jesus final shift in the process.
3. Encourager—Coaches
3. Encourager—Coaches
Jesus has died, buried, resurrected, and has been walking around with them for 40 days and now he is about to ascend into heaven. This is the big building point. Jesus’ work on the cross is finished and redemption’s path has been made open. Now all that’s left to do is for these disciples to step up to the plate.
Acts 1:6–9 (ESV)
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
They go that night, gather and pray that when the Holy Spirit falls that they will be ready for whatever comes next. The story goes that the Holy Spirit falls, they are all given the ability to translate into language they’ve never learned, and wouldn’t you know it, Jerusalem just so happened to be filled with people form all over the world who were preparing to go back home after the passover. They all just so happened to hear the sound of the holy spirit and just so happened to come up the hill to see what was happening. The Holy Spirit just so happened to give Peter the words to say and just so happened to allow the other disciples to translate the message of the gospel for all those that were there and 3000 people just so happened to accept the gospel of Christ and carry it back to their homes. In case you haven’t put it together, nothing “just so happens” when the spirit is involved because his sovereignty replaces what we call coincidence.
You see, Jesus built into these men and their lives with him, this structure that undergirded all that he did with them.
He started as their teacher and they, his apprentice/learners.
He then became their coach and they started practicing what taught them. He would give help and guidance as they were doing so but they started being forced to get off the bench and into the game.
Lastly, he encouraged them and sent them out into the world as teachers, preachers, and coaches themselves.
Application
Jesus’ model still works today and we need to use it again.
Jesus’ model still works today and we need to use it again.
Its funny how so much of the world has caught onto this and employees it but we literally have it staring us in the face in our book and we look past it. Learner—>Doer—>Teacher. Learn it, own it, teach it. We can do this. Its not that hard. It just requires us to lean in again and follow through. No matter where you are on that process either you have a place on it. If you’re scared and know that you need to seek some help and get started then do it. Seek out a person who impresses you. Look around the room. Look at a person’s life and ask yourself, “Do I want the walk they have with the Lord that they have? Do I want my husband to look at me the way her’s looks at her? Do I want to raise kids that turn out like his? Do I want to pray as powerfully as she does and understand how she got there?” Then step out and ask. Grow some boldness and just ask. If you are a follower and you just aren’t practicing what you preach then today's the day. Start leaning in and getting your hands dirty. We aren’t promised success, often the opposite, but in the obedience Christ molds us and makes our faith go from clay pots to steel bowls. We become galvanized and eventually, we find ourselves being looked at by those behind us on the timeline. They come up to you and say things like “I love the way you read the bible, can you teach me? Could I buy you coffee sometime, I have some things I’d like your thoughts on? You may not ever feel worthy of such words or admiration but God gives you such people, like setting a ball on the tee because he expects you to play your part. The model is good we just need to use it again.
We do more than teach, we pour our lives into their life.
We do more than teach, we pour our lives into their life.
Interestingly a gallop pole from 2016 was taken to find out why Millennial's where moving jobs so much. For a generation who where big on entitlement and “getting now what it took their parents 50 years to earn” many had their thoughts about what the studies would find. However, one thing that floated to the top and has been argued by those in the leadership and consultant games is that one of the major reasons Millennial, those born between 1981-1996, is that they would change jobs or stay at a job often with less pay if they felt like there where opportunities to learn and grow as a person. They would be loyal to managers who saw them as a person and not just a cog in the machinery. 39% of those who said they hadn’t been taught or learned any thing new in the past 60 days had thought of leaving or felt very unsatisfied in their jobs.
In short, we’ve all been led to believe that my generation, and those behind me are “uncoachable, unteachable, uninterested, and entitled.” Perhaps some of that is true and perhaps we’ve just been craving something that isn’t in season anymore. People don’t want a relationship with social media they want real friends. They don’t want a middle manager, they want a boss who sees them as valuable and invests in them. They don’t want to go through a workbook, they want a friend who pours their own life into them. Who doesn’t see them as a project but as a person.
Jesus walked with these guys as closely as anyone could and look how they turned out. “Juston, I can’t leave my job, my home, my family, and everything to walk the countryside for 3 years teaching and preaching.” Perhaps but you can invest your life into others. You can seek out an older and wiser man or woman of God and ask them to meet with you over dinner once a week. You can make phone calls while you are driving for work and actually talk to a person on the other line who you see potential in. You can talk about your successes and struggles in real-time with a person, forgoing all the mask we were to keep from being vulnerable with one another and just be real. People are looking for real relationships and in a world of fake followers, empty likes, and hollow satisfactions, real relationships are like a cool glass of water in a desert of disappointment.
We grow from teacher to coach to encourager.
We grow from teacher to coach to encourager.
Your job is always going as a mentor/teacher/coach/disciple maker. But its also always changing. As a mom you cut up your kid’s food when they were younger but the goal is not to keep cutting it up when they are 16. You may have taught them to swing the bat when they started but you’ll end up in the same place we all do, in the stands, cheering them on as they step up to the plate. You’re role changes and that's a good thing. You shouldn’t begrudge that change or even resist it. Eventually, the kids move out and move on. But, what everybody tells you and we rarely listen too is that grand kids are far better than your kids! Not because they are better but because you are. You grew up and from this new place of wisdom you can see things differently. Those that we share with become our spiritual children and we have the honor and responsibility to help them grow. But I can tell you that when those kids grow up and start sharing the gospel with others, creating new spiritual children of their own, discipling them, helping them grow. It is such a great honor to get those phone calls and cheer from the stands. Your role changes but that is the good stuff!
They grow from learner to doer to coach.
They grow from learner to doer to coach.
Watching your first baseball game, to getting the courage to stand up and catch a ball when someone throws it at you, to hitting your first ball, to getting good and in a couple years you are coaching kids little league. But you never coach if you don’t learn how to catch the ball. It’s okay that you don’t know it all. Its okay that you’re not that good at this. Its okay that you haven’t had the opportunities yet. We where all there at some point but the best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago. The second best time is today. So get your glove and get ready to learn. Show up to practice. Get in the game. It’s always amazing to me every year that I coach the girls how far they come in one season. You’ll be surprised how much God will grow you too but the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. And that step for you and I is one of surrender to Jesus.
Are you ready?
